'A clear shot' - police kill suspect, rescue children

Updated 5:17 am, Friday, December 2, 2016

This undated photo provided by the Tacoma Police Department shows officer Reginald "Jake" Gutierrez, who was shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence call Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016, in Tacoma, Wash. Gutierrez, had served with the department since 1999 and was highly respected and experienced, Tacoma Police Chief Donald Ramsdell said Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016. (Tacoma Police Department via AP) less

This undated photo provided by the Tacoma Police Department shows officer Reginald "Jake" Gutierrez, who was shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence call Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016, in Tacoma, ... more

Photo: AP

Image 2 of 19

Monks from the Khmer Theravadin Buddhist Association of Tacoma hold candles next to a photo of Tacoma Police Officer Reginald "Jake" Gutierrez during a vigil Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, in Tacoma, Wash. Gutierrez was shot while responding to a domestic violence call Wednesday and died later in the day at a hospital. less

Monks from the Khmer Theravadin Buddhist Association of Tacoma hold candles next to a photo of Tacoma Police Officer Reginald "Jake" Gutierrez during a vigil Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, in Tacoma, Wash. Gutierrez ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

Image 3 of 19

Tacoma Chief of Police Don Ramsdell holds a candle as he attends a vigil, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, for Tacoma Police Officer Reginald "Jake" Gutierrez. Gutierrez was shot while responding to a domestic violence call Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 and died later in the day at a hospital. less

Tacoma Chief of Police Don Ramsdell holds a candle as he attends a vigil, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, for Tacoma Police Officer Reginald "Jake" Gutierrez. Gutierrez was shot while responding to a domestic violence ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

Image 4 of 19

Law enforcement officers stand by command vehicles on East 52nd Street in Tacoma, Wash., in the early hours of Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, near the home where a Tacoma Police officer was fatally shot Wednesday. The police officer who was shot multiple times while responding to a domestic violence call died Wednesday night, while police worked to arrest a suspect they believed was still barricaded in the home with a gun, authorities said. less

Law enforcement officers stand by command vehicles on East 52nd Street in Tacoma, Wash., in the early hours of Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, near the home where a Tacoma Police officer was fatally shot Wednesday. The ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

Image 5 of 19

Hospital and law enforcement workers stand at an entrance to Tacoma General Hospital in Tacoma, Wash., as they wait for the body of a Tacoma Police officer who was shot and killed while answering a domestic violence call Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016, to be removed from the hospital in a procession. Tacoma Police spokeswoman Loretta Cool said the officer was pronounced dead at the hospital Wednesday evening. "We've suffered a great loss and I think the community has suffered a great loss. I don't know how to put that into words," Cool said. less

Hospital and law enforcement workers stand at an entrance to Tacoma General Hospital in Tacoma, Wash., as they wait for the body of a Tacoma Police officer who was shot and killed while answering a domestic ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

Image 6 of 19

Law enforcement vehicles line East 52nd Street in Tacoma, Wash., in the early hours of Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, near the home where a Tacoma Police Officer was fatally shot Wednesday. The police officer who was shot multiple times while responding to a domestic violence call died Wednesday night, while police worked to arrest a suspect they believed was still barricaded in the home with a gun, authorities said. less

Law enforcement vehicles line East 52nd Street in Tacoma, Wash., in the early hours of Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, near the home where a Tacoma Police Officer was fatally shot Wednesday. The police officer who was ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

Image 7 of 19

A law enforcement officer watches as viewed through the windshield of a Tacoma Fire Department ambulance as the flag-draped body of a Tacoma Police officer who was shot and killed while answering a domestic violence call Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016, is placed in the vehicle for a procession away from Tacoma General Hospital, in Tacoma, Wash. Tacoma Police spokeswoman Loretta Cool said the officer was pronounced dead at the hospital Wednesday evening. "We've suffered a great loss and I think the community has suffered a great loss. I don't know how to put that into words," Cool said. less

A law enforcement officer watches as viewed through the windshield of a Tacoma Fire Department ambulance as the flag-draped body of a Tacoma Police officer who was shot and killed while answering a domestic ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

Image 8 of 19

Law enforcement vehicles line East 52nd Street in Tacoma, Wash., in the early hours of Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, near the home where a Tacoma Police Officer was fatally shot Wednesday. The police officer who was shot multiple times while responding to a domestic violence call died Wednesday night, while police worked to arrest a suspect they believed was still barricaded in the home with a gun, authorities said. less

Law enforcement vehicles line East 52nd Street in Tacoma, Wash., in the early hours of Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, near the home where a Tacoma Police Officer was fatally shot Wednesday. The police officer who was ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

Image 9 of 19

Loretta Cool, spokeswoman for the Tacoma Police Department, talks to reporters in front of a large replica of a police badge with a mourning band on it, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, at the Tacoma Police Department headquarters in Tacoma, Wash. A Tacoma Police officer died Wednesday night at a hospital after being shot multiple times earlier in the day while answering a domestic violence call. less

Loretta Cool, spokeswoman for the Tacoma Police Department, talks to reporters in front of a large replica of a police badge with a mourning band on it, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, at the Tacoma Police Department ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

Image 10 of 19

Flowers rest on a sign, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, at Tacoma Police Department headquarters in Tacoma, Wash. A Tacoma Police officer died Wednesday night at a hospital after being shot multiple times earlier in the day while answering a domestic violence call. less

Flowers rest on a sign, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, at Tacoma Police Department headquarters in Tacoma, Wash. A Tacoma Police officer died Wednesday night at a hospital after being shot multiple times earlier in ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

Image 11 of 19

A woman wipes a tear as she visits a growing memorial outside the Tacoma Police Department headquarters Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, in Tacoma, Wash. A Tacoma Police officer died Wednesday night at a hospital after being shot multiple times earlier in the day while answering a domestic violence call. less

A woman wipes a tear as she visits a growing memorial outside the Tacoma Police Department headquarters Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, in Tacoma, Wash. A Tacoma Police officer died Wednesday night at a hospital after ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

Image 12 of 19

Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist hugs his daughter Slone, 6, as they visit a growing memorial outside the Tacoma Police Department headquarters Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, in Tacoma, Wash. A Tacoma Police officer died Wednesday night at a hospital after being shot multiple times earlier in the day while answering a domestic violence call. less

A drawing and flowers left by Slone Lindquist, 6, the daughter of Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist, sits at a growing memorial outside the Tacoma Police Department headquarters Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, in Tacoma, Wash. A Tacoma Police officer died Wednesday night at a hospital after being shot multiple times earlier in the day while answering a domestic violence call. less

A drawing and flowers left by Slone Lindquist, 6, the daughter of Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist, sits at a growing memorial outside the Tacoma Police Department headquarters Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, in ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

Image 14 of 19

Tacoma City Councilmember Victoria Woodards holds a candle as she attends a vigil Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, for fallen Tacoma Police Officer Reginald "Jake" Gutierrez. Gutierrez was shot while responding to a domestic violence call Wednesday and died later in the day at a hospital. less

Tacoma City Councilmember Victoria Woodards holds a candle as she attends a vigil Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, for fallen Tacoma Police Officer Reginald "Jake" Gutierrez. Gutierrez was shot while responding to a ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

Image 15 of 19

Tacoma Police Officer Tel Thompson, second from left, stands with others holding candles and flowers at a vigil Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, for Tacoma Police Officer Reginald "Jake" Gutierrez. Gutierrez was shot while responding to a domestic violence call Wednesday and died later in the day at a hospital. less

Tacoma Police Officer Tel Thompson, second from right, gets a hug from Denise Perry, right, during at a vigil Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, for fallen Tacoma Police Officer Reginald "Jake" Gutierrez. Gutierrez was shot while responding to a domestic violence call Wednesday and died later in the day at a hospital. less

People hold candles as they attend a vigil Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, for Tacoma Police Officer Reginald "Jake" Gutierrez. Gutierrez was shot while responding to a domestic violence call Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 and died later in the day at a hospital. less

Tacoma Chief of Police Don Ramsdell, left, speaks at a vigil, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, for Tacoma Police Officer Reginald "Jake" Gutierrez. Gutierrez was shot while responding to a domestic violence call Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 and died later in the day at a hospital. less

SEATTLE (AP) — A Washington state police officer responding to a domestic violence call was fatally shot and his fellow officers were still "taking fire" as they removed him from a home, beginning an 11-hour standoff during which authorities say the gunman used two young children as human shields.

The fallen officer, Reginald "Jake" Gutierrez, had served with the department since 1999 and was highly respected and experienced, Tacoma Police Chief Donald Ramsdell told reporters Thursday.

Dozens of officers had surrounded the home in Tacoma on Wednesday night, urging nearby residents of the working class neighborhood of single-family homes to shelter in place.

Early Thursday, authorities say a deputy got "a clear shot" and killed the suspect as officers rescued an 8-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy.

Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said the gunman had refused to surrender during negotiations. His name was not released.

"We were able to get the suspect cornered and trapped, even though he had two kids," Troyer said. "We had a SWAT member who had a clear shot. We fired one round, which struck him."

Ramsdell said the incident began Wednesday afternoon when animal control officers working near the house were approached by a woman who said her husband had locked her out and taken her phone. The officers called police.

Gutierrez and his female partner went into the home, and Gutierrez was shot as he reached the top of the stairs to speak with the suspect, Ramsdell said.

The female officer shot back and ran from the house, taking the wife to safety.

Tacoma police spokeswoman Loretta Cool described the hectic scene that led to the standoff.

"We had an officer down and shots still firing at the time," Cool said. Police managed to get the officer out "but they were still taking fire," she said.

Officers didn't immediately know there were children in the house and became aware of their presence during the standoff, she said.

"When they were able to rescue the boy, there was an opening to rescue the girl," Cool said. "That provoked the shot to take the suspect out."

Authorities discovered multiple weapons inside the house but did not describe them in detail. Few details were released about the treatment of the children by the suspect.

Ramsdell said the suspect did not have a "serious background in regards to criminal history" but there may have been issues with mental illness.

Kristi Croskey, who rented the house to the suspect and his wife, was inside the home at the time and barricaded herself in the bathroom before she was able to escape, KOMO-TV (http://bit.ly/2gYPKJb) reported.

She said police came to the residence because the suspect was fighting with his wife and refused to let her back inside.

"They said they just wanted to talk to him and then gunfire started, they didn't start it," Croskey told the station.

Reacting to the shots fired, officers entered the home and managed to get the wounded officer outside and to a hospital, Cool said.

Gutierrez died Wednesday night after undergoing surgery.

"We've suffered a great loss and I think the community has suffered a great loss. I don't know how to put that into words," Cool said.

The shooting sparked an outpouring of support from the community and public officials, who left flowers at the front of the police department, under a large police badge carried a black ribbon across the center.

A procession of law enforcement officers escorted the officer's body from the hospital to the county medical examiner's office.

Hundreds of people attended the first of two vigils in Tacoma Thursday, lighting candles, singing songs and sharing memories.

The shooting remains under investigation by multiple agencies, including the FBI and the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office, which will review material to be sure that the police followed their policies in responding to the incident.